The Houston City Council approves an ordinance to crack down on after-hours BYOB businesses

Houston, Texas (KTRK) – The city of Houston says it has a new crime-fighting tool thanks to… The law that cracks down on after-hours establishments Where customers bring their own alcoholic beverages.

This is not for BYOB establishments that close before midnight. Popular restaurants are not required to abide by the new regulations passed by the City Council on Wednesday morning.

City leaders say this is a way to fill the loophole created by sexually oriented clubs, restaurants, bars, and businesses operating without a license from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

“These are institutions that either were denied a TABC permit or never sought one,” said Abby Kamen, a District C council member.

The law takes effect immediately, but Mayor Sylvester Turner is allowing a 30-day “education period” that will give businesses a chance to catch up with the new protocols.

BYOB venues operating anytime from 12:01 a.m. to 7 a.m. must have an annual pass; The owner must pass a security check; There should be a wand or metal detector on site; There must be a security guard for every 100 customers and alcohol consumption must end at 2:15 am

There should also be signs outside saying no alcohol can be consumed in the parking lot at these places.

“This is another way of trying to create a safer environment,” Turner said.

The mayor cited Houston Police Department statistics showing that four of the nine homicides between November 1, 2022 and April 18, 2023, occurred after 2 a.m. in these types of businesses.

Councilman Tiffany Thomas went further by sensationalizing a 2021 murder at a now-closed club in southwest Houston.

“The chemistry room has been closed due to a murder in Clarecrest,” she explained. “It took us 18 months to close that because HPD didn’t have the necessary teeth to get in there legitimately.”

The new law gives Houston police the authority to enter these places and give citations, which can lead to permits being revoked after multiple violations.

In addition, the city now has the power to sue to have problem areas designated as “public nuisances,” which can result in injunctions saying problem businesses can no longer operate.

“Nothing is open after 11 p.m., that’s fine,” Thomas said. “That’s what my mother used to say.”

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